Hi, Just a short note–I just had to connect you to my friend’s blog today. Brenda Nuland and I are so much alike, it is as though God created us out of the same mold–we even both don’t like to fly in airplanes–which is a faith issue for me about 20 times a year! She is a dear friend and my older children have gotten to know her oldest daughter Stephanie, as she is on the way to Boston. Brenda has a wonderful blog that always feeds my soul and she and I love so many of the same things. She had a post called I Heart Hobbit Houses. You can go to her blog here to connect and read down in her article to connect to the article. I love it because she asks for recommendations for those who know of books that have great descriptions of homes and also great descriptions of food I thought I would put some of my list here and ask all of you to tell me of your favorite homey books. Here is a short list off the top of my head.
Favorite books that describe life-giving homes
April 28, 2009 by 10 Comments
Brambly Hedge–delightful children’s picture book series from England–more contemporary than Beatrix Potter and has the most inviting pictures of the inside of an English Home that is lived in by precious animals–lovely– and worth buying second hand for your own library.
Pilgrim Inn–a favorite book from an old English author, Elizabeth Gouge, whose story is about the redemption of people in a home, and family after World War II-a book for adult readers or older teens. Also shows the mending of a marriage and grace that comes through acceptance. Makes the home come alive through loving, giving grace and living as a family.
I love Edith Schaeffer books–The Hidden Art of Homemaking and What is a Family for instruction and stories about her own family and the life of using her home as a place of ministry and of course the story of L’Abri is a must read for families to picture the hand of God at work in the life of people who live by faith–heart warming stories–but all of these books are non-fiction
The Winter Cottage by Brink–pancakes a focal point and so funny as well as a cozy cottage–read aloud for kids lateo-elementary or read aloud to children.
Also, I collect old Eloise Wilkin (an artist) books because her beautiful pictures of children in family, playing, doing chores, helping mommy and wonderful pictures of home–are a great way to put pictures in your children’s minds of the importance of family and home–these are simple children’s picture books–but the first imprint I put on my children’s brains about family, home and Mommy.
Loved the melted cheese passages in Heidi–also a must read aloud–a picture of salvation through a great story–beautiful picture of creation. This author wrote to give children literature to lead them to Christ. (We translated one of her stories into English for the first time in our book that we publish called the Gold Thread–the Story was The Rose Child and can be found through our website
Just David–also one of my favorite books in the world–such a picture of a child’s heart redeeming a whole village because of is wonderful integrity–we published this, too. You can find this through our website
Also, the meal in The Little princess–also a must read aloud in our home-the meal she took on her porch was delightful
So many more, but wondered if all of you could tell of some great books and favorite children’s books along this line. Have a great Tuesday!
I love all of the domesticity in “Mrs. Miniver”.
And “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes is fabulous (not the movie…it’s horrible).
Oh, thank you for this list! I cannot wait to dig in!
Every book you mention is one of my favourites – I’m sure I went to L’Abri in Switzerland as a result of my childhood love of Heidi and Edith Schaeffer’s Hidden Art. Just David is one of my favourites (and not very well known) and Elizabeth Goudge is one of my favourite authors. The descriptions in the The little White Horse are marvellous – the geraniums on the windows in the kitchen and the meals – oh my! Winter Cottage is another favourite – and I just don’t many who have heard of it. Have you read Baby Island? Another lovely book also written by CB.
I think you would enjoy Alison Uttley’s A Country Child – beautiful homey descriptive writing.
Now I’m going to check out your friend’s blog – thank you for a delightful post!
Right away what comes to mind are the Mitford series of books by Jan Karon. Her descriptions make even a single wide trailer sound enchanting and homey. and the food and meal desriptions leave my mouth watering and glad to have been “invited”.
What about Girl of the Limberlost, by Jean Stratton Porter? It’s one of my faves. I’m looking forward to checking out the books and authors you mentioned.
Farmer Boy from the Little House series. Oh! If I could eat half of what Almonzo ate at one sitting and not gain weight, it would be glorious!
Hello! I’ve never commented on your blog before, but have finished a few of your books and had to personally tell you THANK YOU. I very recently finished the book Mom Walk and it is one of the most encouraging “mom” books I’ve ever read. I’m going to be keeping it on my nightstand to read time and time again. The prayers at the end of the chapters are one of my favorite parts. I also feel as though I “know” you now, as you shared so many of your struggles and joys you’ve experience in motherhood…so many things I’ve struggled with you have mentioned. I just had to stop in and say “hi” and THANK YOU!! Thank you for your years of sacrifice and for sharing all God has taught you with those of us who are not quite as far along in the motherhood journey.
If you haven’t already, you must read “A Time To Keep, The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays”. Beautiful watercolor paintings depict traditional holiday celebrations throughout the year in a New England household. Tasha Tudor “is a painter who is able to translate her joy in a flower, her happiness in a task performed well, her pleasure in the turning of seasons, her appreciation of traditional values, into a form that speaks eloquently to readers everywhere”!
oh wonderful! you know what book addicts homeschoolin’ mamas are!
by the way, i have given your ‘seasons of a mother’s heart’ to several friends..and will give more when i can afford to! keeping my own, of course, well-thumbed, dog-eared, underlined..God bless. darci
I love your suggestions! We are so thankful you introduced us to Bunny Bungalow by Cynthia Rylant ~ the story is sweet and the illustrations are precious. Hidden Art and L’Abri are favorites, as is For the Family’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. I’ve learned a lot about homemaking from Emilie Barnes and her books Welcome Home (now titled Home Warming), The Spirit of Loveliness (now titled Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home), and all of her Twelve Teas books. Our daughters enjoy the Redwall series by Brian Jacques ~ he has a great way of describing feasts! Anne and Diana from Anne of Green Gables always bring a smile. Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson has a beautiful description of Mary shopping for the ingredients for the dinner Jesus will enjoy at her and Martha’s home. Thank you, Sally, for all of your suggestions ~ in your books, conferences, and these posts! Blessings!